KARACHI, June 14: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Monday announced that midwifery students would be paid a monthly stipend of Rs2,000, and the grade of their posts would also be enhanced.

Speaking at inauguration of the Khadijatul Kubra Midwifery School, Manghopir Maternity Home, near Trans Lyari Park (Gutter Bagheecha), the nazim lauded Unicef support for the project and hoped that it would continue in future as well.

Mr Khan advised the students to discharge their duties, after completion of the training, with full concentration. He was briefed that 18-month training would be provided to the students in the school, after which they would be posted at different maternity homes or hospitals.

It was informed that a sum of Rs0.35 million was spent on renovation of the school, Rs0.3 million on purchasing surgical instruments and Rs0.45 million were spent on the renovation work at Manghopir Maternity Home with the assistance of Unicef.

The nazim directed EDO (Health) to keep visiting the midwifery school to know about the problems being faced by the students. EDO Dr Fazal Ilahi Memon on the occasion announced to provide two midwifery trainers for the school.

Site Town Health Officer Dr Haroon Imtiaz expressed the hope that establishment of the school would help reduce maternal mortality rate in the area.

Unicef representative Dr Ara, the head of the Manghopir Maternity Home, Dr Samina Qazi, Dr Sher Shah Syed, WHO representative Dr Azmodhey, Dr Mudhat Atia, Dr Abdullah Motaqi, Sindh Director Nursing Ilmia Mughal, chairperson, Health Committee, City Council, Nasreen Anjum, and UC Nazims Akhlaqul Nabi and Abdul Razaque Khan also spoke on the occasion. -PPI